Arena Racing Company (ARC) and Racecourse Media Group (RMG) have joined forces to create shared channels to distribute UK racing around the world.
The five-year partnership will begin in January with ARC and RMG jointly offering British and Irish racing content. This will be promoted and commercialised across international tote and pari-mutuel markets as a single service.
Racing content will be offered under Great British & Irish Racing (GBI Racing). This served a similar function between 2010 and 2018.
RMG represents 34 British racecourses including Jockey Club-operated racecourses, York and Goodwood. ARC, meanwhile, works with 16 British racecourses and several independent racecourses such as Ascot, Chester and Newbury.
Meanwhile, a separate service for various fixed-odds territories will broadcast coverage from British racecourses. This will also cover ARC’s Premier Greyhound Racing service. Broadcast services for tote and fixed-odds channels will be provided by Vermantia, ARC’s production business.
Efficient platform for British and Irish racing
“This partnership will offer British racing a unified export service, streamlined for our various international partners,” ARC managing director of media and international, Brendan Parnell, said.
“Working with our colleagues at RMG, we look forward to offering and developing this efficient international platform to distribute and promote the sport around the world.”
RMG CEO Martin Stevenson added: “I am delighted that British racing, and Irish racing via the tote service, will be sold and promoted as one package. This will drive further value for our racecourses and provide a better product for our customers across the world.
“I look forward to working with Brendan and his team in creating this leading international service. I would also very much like to thank SIS for the work they have done for our racecourses in this area over the last five years.”
